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Are bloggers the key to the
future of news media in the United
States?
BY A CORRESPONDENT
February 19, 2006
An online survey of over 5,000
adults in the United States found that
55% believed that bloggers would play
an important role in the future of
American journalism.
The finding strengthens the case for
the advocates of the so-called ‘We
Media.’
The survey was conducted by iFocos and
pollster John Zogby, as part of an
iFocos conference on media innovation
hosted by the University of Miami’s
School of Communication.
The survey also polled 77 members of
the media attending the conference.
The poll found that 53% of respondents
said the rise of free internet-based
media posed the greatest threat to the
future of professional journalism,
while 76% said the internet has
positively impacted the journalism
sector.
Of the public surveyed, 72% was
dissatisfied with the state of
American journalism. A majority of the
conference attendees – 55% – also
expressed dissatisfaction with
American journalism, and 61% believed
traditional media is out of touch with
what Americans want from their news.
Media members have embraced blogging
as a medium, with 86% saying that the
practice will play an important role
in the future of journalism.
“We are now seeing mainstream
acceptance of what we call the “Power
of Us’ – the value, credibility, and
vital expression of citizen and
collaborative media,” Dale Peskin,
managing director of iFocos, said.
“We’ve arrived at a tipping point. A
new definition of democratic media is
emerging in our society.”
The survey’s findings are likely to be
discomforting for supporters of
traditional US media that have long
dismissed the trend towards online
media.
A whopping 78% of older respondents
–those aged 65 and over – expressed
the most dissatisfaction with the
traditional media sources they have
grown up with.
Despite concerns over quality, 72% of
those surveyed said journalism is
important to their community.
Websites were favored by 81% for news,
followed by television (78%), and
radio (73%).
Newspapers and magazines trailed
behind at 69% and 38%, respectively.
Not surprisingly, the survey found
that 58% of young adults aged 18 to 24
relied on the internet as the main
source of news, with television far
behind at 18% and less than 10%
relying on newspapers.
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